Photo credits to Hearthstone Village.
Flames swirl in the streets, gunshots ring out everyday, and protestors scream for justice as they march throughout Haiti. The children peer through the windows of their homes, where they are stuck because leaving could be fatal. Schools are boarded up and closed; education takes the back burner when lives are at stake.
Since 2018, protests have erupted all over Haiti after a probe revealed that the president and administration were concerned in a corruption scandal. For the past two years, people have been calling for justice, with thousands taking to the streets in 2018 and 2019. Riots broke out and people lost their lives amid the chaos. Roadblocks made transportation difficult and in November of 2019, there was a country-wide lockdown that forced schools to shut down, along with other public services. Economic production was also halted during those two and a half months. Right now during the pandemic, there is little news about the situation in Haiti and whether or not protests have continued, but one must assume that the virus poses a larger threat to people’s well-being at the moment.
The demonstrations were largely spurred on by food and water shortages, fuel cut-off, and continuing corruption. Many of the protests call for the resignation of president Jovenel Moïse.
Such political and economic conditions hinder Haiti children’s regular schooling as their schools are shuttered. In some households, parents endeavor to maintain education for their children by teaching them at home. However, the students suffer from immense anxiety and stress as they simultaneously have to avoid getting injured in the conflict while maintaining their studies. Due to the political turmoil, public schools in Haiti are devoid of teachers and funding. Although some schools contact their students to return, no teachers are available at school to help. As a result, many students fall behind their expected education level.
Children are the most vulnerable victims in a tumultuous society as they witness brutality and have their chances at a higher education taken from them. In Haiti, some families are better off and thus are able to afford lessons for their children. However, many other families are trapped in a cycle of poverty due to a lack of education tracing generations back. In these families, the parents are incapable of teaching their own children because they have not received proper education themselves. Thankfully, countries are reaching out to assist Haiti in this educational crisis and organizations like Hearthstone Village are working to create safe environments for students to get an education. After all, A child should not have to worry about getting caught up in the crossfire while they strive to advance their learning.
By Kaitlin Harness and Nina Xie, Editorial Officers
Sources
https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/28/world/americas/haiti-protests-moise.html
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/why-haitians-say-they-wont-stop-protesting
How pleased I am to read your thought provoking article about the impact of dysfunctional governance in Haiti. Children and young people, like yourselves, all over the world, are struggling to find avenues for their education now. But the terror you illustrate in our article is so discouraging. It is likely a
result of colonization of people of color all over the world, where respect for humanity is overshadowed by capitalist interests and exploitation of poor people is rampant. Thank your concern and your voice as you examine the challenges of other youth as they struggle to receive an education.
Caitlin, this story is very well written and sends a powerful message that the children of Haiti deserve and need
fully sufficient education.
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